Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-10-17
A M0QUI SNAKE-DANCE.
Diabclical Festivities Of an Ari-
zona Tribe.

]
rious Order Similar TO Masonry Among the
MoquIs-Absolute Exhaustion from Dane
ing.
! A letter to The apache County Critic from
the Moqui villages of Arizona gives the follow
ing description Of a snakc-dance:
To-day is the eliminating one in the festival
Of the "NIost Ancient Order of Snakes"
an organization that dates back long prior to
the coming of the MOqui Indians to the vii
lagos now occupied by them. 1t seems that
this feast is not one pertaining to religions
worship, but is wholly public demonstration
of a mysterious order, similar In its secrets to
Masonry or Oddfellowship. am told that it
does teach Of supernatural beings, yet it does
not recognize any one tutelary god, nor pro-
vide any amulcts or fetiches to be worn By the
members. To assume that this dance pertains
TO any particular worship would be an error
and would be doing the participants an in
| justice also, as they emphatically dsclaim any
connection whatever with the workings Of the
gods.
This ceremony is celebrated only once every
two years, ard It takes sixteen days to pre-
pare for il, the first eight days being observed
by the high priests and leaders in getting to-
f
and in the preparation Of the, fusion which
is drank by those who are to take part, that
the fumes of the serpents or even their bite
may not prove injurious to anyone. 1t is the
preparation Of this drink that is
THE PROFOUND SECRET OF THE ORDER,
and 1t is known to but four living beings at
the same time DR.. sullivan and other pro-
minent scientists have from time to time tried
to brIbe the keepers Of the secret to inpart it
to them, but it was of no use; 50 1t remains q
secret in fact to-day the same as it was
hundreds of years ago.
The remaining eight days are devoted to
hunting snakes Of all kinds, handling and
washing them, or rather "subduing their
vicious habits" as the Moqui puts it. This
washing is more OF q shower bath, and is &C.
complished by putting the snakes into large
stone jars, then pouring the water over them.
This of course chills the serpents, puts them
into a semi comatose condition, that leaves
them comparatively helpless They are then
taken out of the jars, rolled in sand until dry
and then replaced in the vessels, where,
covered as they are with \ tanned buckskin,
neither light nor breeze can get at them to
disturb their quietness Usually from a half
to third are full-grown rattlesnakcs, aud the
ilea Of the removal of the fangs is altogether
erroneous, for l found by seeing dog bitten,
that there was just as much tooth aud virus
IS there could have been prior to the capture
Of the rattler.
The evening before the dance proper pre-
liminary one was held, but as no snakes were
handled 1t was Of no real Importance. After
singing q song of several verses, In the
archaic, the members returned to their quar-
ters. To-day, however, the program was more
elaborate. A large cottonwood shade-or
wicki- -up-was erected upon the western edge
Of the dance space close to the line of the
houses, into which just before the hour Of
commencing the exercises the snakes, enclos-
ed In sacks OF various sizes, were placed, with
the mouths Of the sacks securely tied,
THAT NONE MIGHT ESCAPE.
After the placing Of the snakes In this bower
large cottonwood board, which was securely
fastened to the ground Immediately in front
Of the doorway in the shade, was brushed
clean and sprinkled with meal mixed with corn
pollen. This, was told, was to dispel all
evil influences from harming the dancers.
When this act Of seeming devotion was fin-
ished, attention was drawn to the furthermost
part Of the village, where arose mingled
sounds of rattles shells, and other tingling
ornaments. This was the signal for the COM
ing up from the estufas and on to the arena
Of the men who, dancing the next hour, would
take into their hands and mouths specimens
of the most repulsive of natures handiwork,
the creeping, Shiny, terror-bearing snake,
with its little glisteniug black eyes bearing
yengeful spite in every sparkle and lightning
fash Of its tongue.
The participants were composed Of two
bodies Of men, thirty-six of whom danced
with the snakes and a smaller number who
formed q chorus OF singing men. These latter
were the first to come upon the scene aud
were dressed in bright-cOlored embroidered
kits, sashes, anklets, and with beautifully
tanned yellow fOXskiDs hanging down behind
the body; bearing small fat rattles In one
hand, while confined in the grasp of the
other was held a stick, to which were fastened
q couple Of turkey feathers. This stick they
claim, carries the necessary protection for
ones life and lets the snakes tutelary god
know that none OF his progeny will be injured
or carried to remote lands. These men made
four or five circuits Of the small plaza and
then took up position to the west side OF II,
leaving the cottonwood shade In the center Of
their line. After they had arranged them
selves properly, in state OF extraordinary
eXaltation, the snake-men came marching
with tremendous energy, as though inspired
to bound across the entire mesa at q single
stride. This motion adds greatly to the i'm
pressiveness Of the serious scene, and thrills
the spectator 10 an excited frame of mind for
THE ENSUING ACT.
These dancing men, like their predecessors,
made four circuits around the same rock,
which stands near the center Of the plaza,
halting to face the chorus, where as on the
day before . song was gone through with.
The snake-men we're formed into groups Of
three each, and now an individual from each
group went into the cottonwood shade and ex-
tracted q snake from one Of the bags, and,
after putting 1t into bis mouth and firmly fix
ing it there by the teeth, started on his round.
His companion, with an arm around his neck,
kept the tail of the snake in position, while
with the right, In which was carried stick
with two long feathers attached, be held the
serpent away from becoming tangled In the
hair Of his friend. The snake after being
carried around the circle, Is thrown from the
mouth, when the third member Of the group
gathers his snakeship up and carries him the
balance Of the dance, occasionally, however,
giving the dancing men some To hold, which
they do In rather a modest manner. Smiles
are brought upon the visages Of many OF the
spectators at the sad plight others are put In
bv the serpents every once in a while making
bold dashes for liberty, scattering the crowd
in all directions. vet to be brought back cad
tives and held more securely By the singers.
Two or three instances were noticed OF the
large bull-snake being held BY the neck, but
throwing his long, prehensile body around the
leg, thus securing himself from imaginative
dangers. One instance IN particular where
the snake was longer BY fully two feet than
the small boy who held 1t, and twisted itself
around first one leg snd the other in such 6
manner that
!